Character string input system

ABSTRACT

The present invention is intended to realize character string input using two or more devices by an efficient technique. A character string input system includes a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus. The first information processing apparatus acquires an operation done on a first input device and acquires a first character string on the basis of the acquired operation. The second information processing apparatus acquires an operation done on a second input device and acquires a second character string on the basis of the acquired operation. The first information processing apparatus outputs an input character string on the basis of the first character string acquired by the time input of the second character string is started by use of the second input device and the second character string.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a character input system, acharacter string input method, a character string input apparatus, aterminal apparatus, a program, and a computer-readable informationstorage medium.

BACKGROUND ART

Information devices attached with a game controller and a remotecontroller (hereafter referred to generically as “controller”) that area type of pointing devices are known, such as stationary game machinesand home video recorders. With these information devices, it is ageneral practice to input characters by moving a pointer on an on-screenkeyboard displayed on a display device such as a television by acontroller. In such an input method, a character string input operationis executed by moving the pointer to key positions displayed on thescreen. PTL 1 below discloses a technology in which characters areinputted by use of an on-screen keyboard.

On the other hand, it is a general practice to execute a character inputoperation by use of a touch panel on a mobile information terminal, suchas a smartphone and a tablet terminal.

In addition, there is a remote operation technology in which image datais transmitted in real time from a host apparatus that executes anapplication program such as a stationary game machine that executes gamesoftware to a terminal apparatus for operation and data inputted throughthe terminal apparatus is transmitted to the host apparatus, therebymaking available resources of the host apparatus without user attendanceat the host apparatus.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

[PTL 1]

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-148589

SUMMARY Technical Problems

Now, it is considered that, in inputting a character string into astationary game machine or home video recorder, not only character inputby use of a controller but character input by use of a mobileinformation terminal is practicable. In making two or more input methodspracticable, processing is required for solving the contention of inputoperations done by the both, but the processing for solving thiscontention has not been easy.

In addition, in a remote operation technology, it is practicable toinput characters by use of a character input function provided by a hostapparatus. To be more specific, the host apparatus draws an image forcharacter input such as a screen keyboard and the information created byan operation by a user done on that image is passed to the hostapparatus, thereby inputting characters. In this method, character inputis difficult if there is characteristics difference in screen size orinput device configuration between the host apparatus and the terminalapparatus. In order to overcome this problem, use of a character stringinput function provided by the terminal apparatus is possible. To bemore specific, it is considered that the terminal apparatus draws animage for character input and characters are inputted on the basis of anoperation executed on the drawn image for character input. In this case,at least a portion of an image that is drawn by the host apparatus onthe basis of the image for character input drawn by the terminalapparatus and transmitted to the terminal apparatus is hidden.

The present invention has been made in view of the problems describedabove, and it is an object of the present invention to provide atechnology of realizing character string input based on two or moreinput devices in a technique that is more efficient than in the case inwhich this configuration is not provided.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a technology ofsuppressing effects of hiding of at least a portion of an image forcharacter input that is transmitted from a host apparatus if the imagefor character input is drawn by a terminal apparatus.

Solution to Problems

In order to solve the problems, according to the present invention,there is provided a character input system including a first informationprocessing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus. Thefirst information processing apparatus has: a first operationacquisition block configured to acquire an operation done on a firstinput device; a character string acquisition block configured to acquirea first character string on a basis of the acquired operation; and acharacter string output block configured to output an input characterstring. The second information processing apparatus has: a secondoperation acquisition block configured to acquire an operation done on asecond input device; and a character string input block configured toacquire a second character string on a basis of the acquired operation.The character string output block outputs the input character string ona basis of the first character string acquired by the character stringacquisition block by a time input of the second character string isstarted by use of the second input device and the second characterstring.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided acharacter string input apparatus including: an operation acquisitionblock configured to acquire an operation done on an input device; acharacter string acquisition block configured to acquire a characterstring on a basis of the acquired operation; and a character stringoutput block configured to output an input character string decided on abasis of a character string acquired by the character string acquisitionblock by a time input of a character string is started by use of anothercharacter string input apparatus and a character string inputted in theanother character string input apparatus.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a programhaving a computer function as: an operation acquisition block configuredto acquire an operation done on an input device; a character stringacquisition block configured to acquire a character string on a basis ofthe acquire operation; and a character string output block configured tooutput an input character string decided on a basis of a characterstring acquired by the character string acquisition block by a timeinput of a character string is started by use of another characterstring input apparatus and a character string inputted in the anothercharacter string input apparatus.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided acomputer-readable storage medium storing the program mentioned above.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided anothercharacter string input apparatus including: an operation acquisitionblock configured to acquire an operation done on an input device; acharacter string acquisition block configured to acquire an additionalcharacter string on a basis of the acquired operation; and atransmission block configured to transmit a signal indicative that inputof a character string is started by use of the input device.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided anotherprogram having a computer function as: an operation acquisition blockconfigured to acquire an operation done on an input device; a characterstring acquisition block configured to acquire an additional characterstring on a basis of the acquired operation; and a transmission blockconfigured to transmit a signal indicative that input of a characterstring is started by use of the input device.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided acomputer-readable storage medium storing the another program mentionedabove.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided acharacter string input method including: a step of acquiring anoperation done on a first input device; a step of acquiring a firstcharacter string on a basis of the operation done on the first inputdevice; a step of acquiring an operation done on a second input device;a step of acquiring a second character string on a basis of theoperation done on the second input device; and a step of outputting aninput character string on a basis of the first character string acquiredon a basis of the operation done on the first input device by a timeinput of the second character string is started by use of the secondinput device and the second character string.

According to the present invention, character string input by use of twoor more input devices can be realized by a technique more efficient thanin the cases where the present configuration is not adopted.

In one mode of the present invention, the second information processingapparatus may further have a transmission block configured to transmit asignal indicative that input of the second character string by use ofthe second input device is started; the first information processingapparatus may further have a reception block configured to receive thesignal transmitted from the second information processing apparatus; andif the signal is received, the character string acquisition block mayrestrict input of a character string by use of the first input device.

In this mode, character string input by use of two or more input devicescan be realized with a simple technique.

In one mode of the present invention, the first information processingapparatus may further have a transmission block configured to transmitthe first character string acquired by the character string acquisitionblock; the second information processing apparatus may further have areception block configured to receive the transmitted first characterstring; the character string input block may decide the input characterstring on a basis of the received character string and the additionalcharacter string; and the character string output block may output thedecided input character string.

In one mode of the present invention, the first information processingapparatus may decide whether or not an ID associated with startup of acharacter input processing in the first information processing apparatusmatches an ID associated with the second information processingapparatus; and if there is no match, then character string input by thesecond information processing apparatus may be restricted.

According to this mode, occurrence of the contention caused by the inputof character strings by two or more users through input devicesdifferent from each other can be suppressed.

According to the present invention, there is provided a terminalapparatus including: reception means for receiving a start requestindicative of a request for starting character input from a hostapparatus; display control means for having display means display, ifthe start request is received from the host apparatus, a characteridentification image for allowing a user to identify a character; andtransmission means for transmitting information indicative of acharacter identified by the user to the host apparatus on a basis of anoperation done on the character identification image by the user.

According to the present invention, there is provided another characterstring input method including: a step of receiving a start requestindicative of a request for starting character input from a hostapparatus; a step of having display means display, if the start requestis received from the host apparatus, a character identification imagefor allowing a user to identify a character; and a step of transmittinginformation indicative of the character identified by the user to thehost apparatus on a basis of an operation done on the characteridentification image by the user.

According to the present invention, there is provided another programhaving a computer execute processing of: receiving a start requestindicative of a request for starting character input from a hostapparatus; having display means display, if the start request isreceived from the host apparatus, a character identification image forallowing a user to identify a character; and transmitting informationindicative of the character identified by the user to the host apparatuson a basis of an operation done on the character identification image bythe user.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided anothercomputer-readable storage medium storing the above-mentioned program.

According to the present invention, if an image for character input isdrawn on a terminal apparatus, an effect due to that at least part of animage transmitted from a host apparatus is hidden can be suppressed.

In one mode of the present invention, the reception means may repeatedlyreceive image data indicative of a host image transmitted from the hostapparatus; and the display control means may have the display meansdisplay, every time the image data is received before the start requestis received, a host image indicated by the image data concerned and mayhave the display means display, after reception of the start request, animage different from the host image and including the characteridentification image.

In one mode of the present invention, the terminal apparatus may furtherinclude means for deciding whether input of a character string by theuser is terminated on a basis of an operation done by the user; if inputof a character string by the user is found terminated, the displaycontrol means may have the display means display an image with thecharacter identification image deleted; and if input of a characterstring by the user is found terminated, the transmission means maytransmit a termination request for requesting transmission of image dataindicative of an image that does not include an area in which the hostapparatus allows the user to identify a character.

In one mode of the present invention, the display control means may havethe display means display an image with the host image and the characteridentification image superimposed on each other after reception of thestart request.

In one mode of the present invention, of the image data, image dataafter transmission of the start request may be indicative of the hostimage including a host character input image for selecting a character;and if the start request is received, the display control means may havethe display means display such that the host character input image iscovered by the character identification image.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating one example of an informationprocessing system practiced as a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a mobileterminal.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a gameapparatus.

FIG. 4 is diagram illustrating one example of a sequence ofcommunication that takes place between the mobile terminal and the gameapparatus when character string input is executed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating one example of images that areoutputted while input is executed on the side of the game apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating one example of images that areoutputted after character string input is started on the mobileterminal.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating one example of images that areoutputted when an input character string is decided.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating functions that are realized bythe system practiced as the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating one example of a processing flow of themobile terminal.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating one example of a processing flow ofthe mobile apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating one example of a processing flow ofthe game apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating one example of a processing flow ofthe game apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating one example of an informationprocessing system practiced as a second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating one example of a hardwareconfiguration of a terminal apparatus.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating functions that are realized bythe information processing system practiced as the second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating one example of an image drawn by ahost apparatus.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating one example of a host image that isdisplayed at the time of character input.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating one example of an image drawn by aterminal apparatus at the time of character input.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating one example of a processing flow of acharacter string decision unit related with start and end of characterstring input.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating one example of a processing flow ofthe terminal apparatus at the time of character input.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating one example of a processing flow ofthe host apparatus at the time of character input.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating one example of a processing flow ofthe host apparatus at the time of character input.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

This invention will be described in further detail by way of embodimentswith reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, ofcomponents that will appear below, those having same functions aredenoted by same reference signs and skipped in description.

First Embodiment

Now, referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a diagram illustrating oneexample of an information processing system practiced as the firstembodiment of the present invention. This information processing systemhas a mobile terminal 1, a game apparatus 2, and a controller 3. Themobile terminal 1 is an information terminal, such as a smartphone, atablet terminal, or a mobile game machine. The game apparatus 2 is astationary home game machine, for example. The controller 3 is a gamecontroller and is connected to the game apparatus 2 in a wired orwireless manner. The controller 3 has sticks and buttons for inputtingdirections.

The mobile terminal 1 and the game apparatus 2 are connected to anetwork, to be more specific, a LAN that includes a router 4. The router4 is a wireless LAN router for example that communicates with the mobileterminal 1 and the game apparatus 2 in a wireless manner, therebyproviding communication between the mobile terminal 1 and the gameapparatus 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a diagram illustrating one exampleof a hardware configuration of the mobile terminal 1. The mobileterminal 1 has a processor 11, a storage block 12, a communication block13, a touch recognition block 14, and a display block 15. FIG. 3 is adiagram illustrating one example of a hardware configuration of the gameapparatus 2. The game apparatus 2 has a processor 21, a storage block22, a communication block 23, and an input/output block 24.

The processors 11 and 21 operate as instructed by programs stored in thestorage blocks 12 and 22 so as to control the communication blocks 13and 23, the input/output block 24, and so forth. It should be noted thatthe programs mentioned above may be provided as stored in acomputer-readable storage medium such as a flash memory or through anetwork such as the Internet.

The storage blocks 12 and 22 are each configured by a memory elementsuch as a DRAM or a flash memory. The storage blocks 12 and 22 store theprograms mentioned above. In addition, the storage blocks 12 and 22store information and computation results inputted from each block.

The communication blocks 13 and 23 are each configured by an integratedcircuit, an antenna, and so on that make up a wireless LAN. Thecommunication blocks 13 and 23 each have a function of communicatingwith other apparatuses through a network device such as the router 4. Itshould be noted that the communication block 23 of the game apparatus 2may have a terminal or a circuit for the connection with a wired LAN. Onthe basis of control of the processors 11 and 21, the communicationblocks 13 and 23 inputs information received from other apparatuses intothe processors 11 and 21 and the storage blocks 12 and 22 and transmitsinformation to other apparatuses.

The touch recognition block 14 is used to detect a touch operation doneby a user and is a touch panel for example. In what follows, descriptionwill be made with the touch recognition block 14 being a touch panel.The touch recognition block 14 is a type of input device that detectsthe position on which a user finger touched and passes that position tothe processor 11. The display block 15 is an image output device thatdisplays images to the user and is a liquid crystal display panel or anorganic EL display panel for example. An area in which the touchrecognition block 14 recognizes the touch or proximity of a finger forexample overlaps with a display area of the display block 15 in a planarview.

The input/output block 24 is configured by means of controlling adisplay output device such as a display and means of controlling aninput device such as the controller 3. On the basis of control of theprocessor 21, the input/output block 24 outputs image data and so on toa display output device and gets a user operation from an input device.

In this information processing system, character strings can be inputtedby use of both the mobile terminal 1 and the controller 3. First, anoverview of inputting character strings through this informationprocessing system will be described by use of examples.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a diagram illustrating one exampleof a communication sequence that takes place between the mobile terminal1 and the game apparatus 2 when a character string is inputted. First,when the user starts up remote character string input processing of themobile terminal 1, the mobile terminal 1 inquires the game apparatus 2if character string input is ready or not. In doing so, the mobileterminal 1 transmits input ready inquiry information to the gameapparatus 2. The game apparatus 2 transmits input unready information tothe mobile terminal 1 indicative that character string input is unreadybefore the startup of character string input processing on the side ofthe game apparatus 2. Then, when character string input becomes readyupon startup of character string input processing from an applicationprogram on the side of the game apparatus 2, the game apparatus 2transmits input ready information indicative that character string inputis ready to the mobile terminal 1.

In this state, the game apparatus 2 displays an on-screen keyboard on atelevision screen indicating that character string input from thecontroller 3 is ready. In addition, character string input is also readyat the mobile terminal 1.

Then, every time a character is inputted by use of the controller 3 ofthe game apparatus 2 or an operation such as predictive input or kanji(Chinese character) conversion is done, the game apparatus 2 transmitscharacter string data halfway through that input or edit to the mobileterminal 1. This transmission is continued until a character string tobe inputted in an application program is decided by an operation of thecontroller 3, character string input processing is terminated by anoperation of the controller 3, or an operation for starting somecharacter input is done at the mobile terminal 1.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a diagram illustrating one exampleof images that are outputted during character string input on the sideof the game apparatus 2. The screen shown in the upper of this diagramis a screen to be displayed by the game apparatus 2 onto a television orthe like and the screen shown in the lower of this diagram is a screento be displayed in a display area of the mobile terminal 1. In theexample of this diagram, executing input and conversion of a characterstring by pressing buttons of the on-screen keyboard by use of thecontroller 3 connected to the game apparatus 2 inputs a character string75 “WHAT IS FOR” halfway through input and edit (in the case of FIG. 4,the input character string is part of a character string that is finallydecided, so that the input character string is also referred to as“partial character string” for convenience). This partial characterstring 75 is displayed on a character string display column 71 of ascreen to be displayed by the game apparatus 2. In addition, the gameapparatus 2 transmits data of the character string 75 halfway throughinput and edit to the mobile terminal 1. The mobile terminal 1 alsooutputs this partial character string 75 to a character string displaycolumn 72 on a screen of the mobile terminal 1. It should be noted thatthe screen of the mobile terminal 1 has a close button 73, pressing ofwhich terminates the remote character string input processing of themobile terminal 1. It should be noted that there is a case in which apartial character string itself provides the whole of a character stringthat is finally decided.

Here, it may be considered that, after inputting a partial characterstring of some degree by the user through the controller 3, a characterstring is additionally inputted or edited for the inputted partialcharacter string by use of the mobile terminal 1. When the user startsinput or edit of a character string from the mobile terminal 1, themobile terminal 1 transmits an input start signal indicative of thestart of input or edit of a character string by the user to the gameapparatus 21. Then, the game apparatus 2 prohibits the character stringinput done by use of the controller 3. Further, every time an operationis executed such as input of a character, kanji conversion, or edit, themobile terminal 1 transmits the data of the character string halfwaythrough input and edit to the game apparatus 2.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a diagram illustrating one exampleof images that are outputted after the start of a character string inputon the mobile terminal 1. It is seen from the character string displaycolumn 72 of the mobile terminal 1 that “DINNER?” of a partial characterstring 76 before kanji conversion has been inputted in addition to “WHATIS FOR” of the partial character string 75 inputted by use of thecontroller 3 at the game apparatus 2. Subsequently, a character stringto be inputted at the mobile terminal 1 is also referred to as“additional character string” for convenience. This is because, in thecase shown in FIG. 4, additional character strings are often added topartial character strings; in another case, there is no partialcharacter string but an additional character string exists. Data of acharacter string “WHAT IS FOR DINNER?” consisting of the partialcharacter string 75 (“WHAT IS FOR”) and the additional character string76 (“DINNER?”) is transmitted from the mobile terminal 1 to the gameapparatus 2, this character string being outputted to the characterstring display column 71 of the game apparatus 2. On the other hand, theon-screen keyboard is locked to disable key pressing on the gameapparatus 2, thereby prohibiting character input. It should be notedthat, if the close button 73 is pressed in this state, then the remotecharacter string input processing of the mobile terminal 1 is terminatedand, at the same time, input and edit of a character string by use ofthe on-screen keyboard of the game apparatus 2 become ready.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the user executes an operation for deciding acharacter string (an input character string) to be inputted in anapplication program in completing the input and edit of the characterstring to be passed to the application program on the side of the mobileterminal 1, the mobile terminal 1 transmits a decision signal indicativethat an input character string has been decided to the game apparatus 2.Then, the game apparatus 2 decides the character string inputted oredited so far as the input character string and passes this inputcharacter string to the application program that started up thecharacter string input processing of the game apparatus 2.

Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown a diagram illustrating one exampleof images that are outputted upon decision of an input character string.When the user presses “Return” button indicative of the decision of aninput character string on the mobile terminal 1, a decision signal istransmitted to the game apparatus 2. Further, in the game apparatus 2,this input character string is passed to the application program whichdisplays the received input character string on the screen displayedthereby. It should be noted that, although not shown in FIG. 7, aftertransmitting the decision signal, the mobile terminal 1 displays animage indicative of an input wait state, thereby preventing the userfrom executing an input operation.

It is presupposed that the operations of the mobile terminal 1 and thegame apparatus 2 be not executed for input through the controller 3until an input character string is decided in the mobile terminal 1after switching from input through the controller 3 to input through themobile terminal 1 or until remote character string input processing fromthe mobile terminal 1 is terminated. On the other hand, while the useris inputting a character string by use of the touch panel of the mobileterminal 1, it is considered that the necessity of going to the troubleof inputting a character string from the controller 3 is minimal.Therefore, the substantial convenience would not be lowered in such apresupposition.

The following describes details of functions and processing that realizethe sequence mentioned above.

Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown a block diagram illustratingfunctions that are realized by the system practiced as the firstembodiment. The mobile terminal 1 has an input ready/unready inquiryblock 51, a touch operation acquisition block 52, a character stringremote input block 53, a transmission block 54, a reception block 55, acharacter string buffer 56, and a user authentication block 57. Thesefunctions are realized by the processor 11 executing programs stored inthe storage block 12 so as to control the communication block 13 and thetouch recognition block 14.

The user authentication block 57 is realized mainly by the processor 11,the storage block 12, and the communication block 13. The userauthentication block 57 gets an ID and password of a user who operatesthe mobile terminal 1 from the user at the start or before the start ofremote character string input processing and authenticates the user byuse of the obtained ID and password. This user authentication processingmay be executed inside the user authentication block 57 of the mobileterminal 1 or by a server (not shown) connected to the mobile terminal 1through a network. Also, upon completion of the user authenticationprocessing, the user authentication block 57 manages the ID of theauthenticated user or an ID (account ID for example) corresponding tothe user ID as an ID related with the mobile terminal 1.

The touch operation acquisition block 52 is realized mainly by theprocessor 11 and the touch recognition block 14. The touch operationacquisition block 52 gets operations by the user on the touch panel fromtime to time. It should be noted that, instead of getting operations onthe touch panel by the touch operation acquisition block 52, operationson another input device suitable for character input such as a keyboardmay be obtained.

The character string buffer 56 is realized mainly by the storage block12. The character string buffer 56 stores data of a character string(equivalent to an input character string) that is halfway through inputor edit.

The transmission block 54 and the reception block 55 are realized mainlyby the processor 11 and the communication block 13. The reception block55 receives a character string halfway through input and edit from thegame apparatus 2 from time to time. The transmission block 54 transmitsan input start signal and data of a character string halfway throughinput and edit.

The game apparatus 2 has a controller operation acquisition block 61, acharacter string input block 62, a character string output block 63, areception block 64, a transmission block 65, an application block 66, acharacter string buffer 67, and a user authentication block 68. Thesefunctions are realized by the processor 21 executing programs stored inthe storage block 22 so as to control the communication block 23 and theinput/output block 24.

The user authentication block 68 is realized mainly by the processor 21,the storage block 22, and the communication block 23. The userauthentication block 68 gets an ID and password of a user who operatesthe game apparatus 2 from the user before the start of character stringinput processing and authenticates the user by use of the obtained IDand password. This user authentication processing may be executed insidethe user authentication block 68 of the game apparatus 2 or by a server(not shown) connected thereto through a network. Upon completion of theuser authentication processing, the user authentication block 68 managesthe ID of the authenticated user or an ID (account ID for example)corresponding to the user ID as an ID related with the game apparatus 2.The user authentication block 68 may also manage the ID related with thegame apparatus 2 by relating the ID with an input device such as thecontroller 3. If two or more users use the game apparatus 2 at the sametime, the user authentication block 68 may manage the ID (the user ID oraccount ID for example) of each user by relating this ID with the inputdevice of each user. Further, the game apparatus 2 may determine on thebasis of an input signal coming from which one of the input devices thecharacter string input processing in the game apparatus 2 was started upand, in the user authentication block 68, the ID of the user relatedwith that input device may be managed as the ID of the user who startedup the character input processing. Also, the user authentication block68 determines whether there is a match between the ID of the userrelated with the game apparatus 2 and the ID of the user transmittedfrom the mobile terminal 1. It should be noted that the userauthentication block 68 may determine whether there is a match betweenthe ID of the user who started up the character input processing of thegame apparatus 2 and the ID of the user transmitted from the mobileterminal 1.

The character string buffer 67 is realized mainly by the storage block22. The character string buffer 67 stores data (equivalent to a partialcharacter string or an input character string) of a character stringhalfway through input or edit.

The controller operation acquisition block 61 is realized mainly by theprocessor 21 and the input/output block 24. The controller operationacquisition block 61 gets operations executed on the controller 3 fromtime to time.

The reception block 64 and the transmission block 65 are realized mainlyby the processor 21 and the communication block 23. The reception block64 receives an input start signal, a decision signal and the like fromtime to time. Also, the reception block 64 may receive an ID of a userauthenticated by the user authentication block 57 of the mobile terminal1. A method of using this ID will be described later. The transmissionblock 65 transmits character string data and so on inputted and editedby use of the controller 3.

The application block 66 is realized mainly by the processor 21 and thestorage block 22. The application block 66 is a process that isgenerated by execution of a program such as a game requiring characterstring input and messaging between users.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, there are shown diagrams illustrating oneexample of a processing flow of the mobile terminal 1. In what follows,mainly a processing flow of the character string remote input block 53of the mobile terminal 1 will be described. It should be noted that theflow shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is executed every time the user starts upremote character string input processing of an application downloaded tothe mobile terminal 1 or every time an input character string isdecided.

The input ready/unready inquiry block 51 is realized mainly by theprocessor 11, the storage block 12, and the communication block 13. Theinput ready/unready inquiry block 51 inquires the game apparatus 2whether or not the mobile terminal 1 can be put in a state ready forcharacter string input. Also, the input ready/unready inquiry block 51limits the character string input that uses operations obtained by thetouch operation acquisition block 52 until the input of characterstrings is ready. It should be noted that the input ready/unreadyinquiry block 51 or the transmission block 54 may transmit the ID of theuser authenticated in the remote character string input processing ofthe mobile terminal 1 to the game apparatus 2.

The input ready/unready inquiry block 51 first inquires the gameapparatus 2 whether or not the mobile terminal 1 can be put in a stateready for character string input (step S101). If input unreadyinformation is received (character string input is unready) as aresponse to that inquiry (N of step S102), the input ready/unreadyinquiry block 51 waits until input ready information is received (inputis ready) (step S103). In this state, a message indicative of input waitis displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal 1. On the other hand,if input ready information is received as a response and thereforecharacter string input is ready (Y of step S102), then the flow goes tothe next processing of the character string remote input block 53.

The character string remote input block 53 is realized mainly by theprocessor 11 and the storage block 12. On the basis of an operationobtained by the touch operation acquisition block 52, the characterstring remote input block 53 gets an additional character string that isinputted in a partial character string transmitted from the gameapparatus 2 and, on the basis of the partial character stringtransmitted from the game apparatus 2, the additional character string,and the operation obtained by the touch operation acquisition block 52,edits and decides the input character string to be passed to theapplication block 66. Details of this processing will be describedbelow.

After a character string input operation is made ready, the characterstring remote input block 53 determines whether or not the user startscharacter string input by use of the mobile terminal 1 on the basis ofan operation obtained by the touch operation acquisition block 52 (stepS104). The character string remote input block 53 determines whether ornot character string input is started by the decision whether or not anoperation for inputting the first character has been done; however, itis also practicable to use another method. For example, the characterstring remote input block 53 may determine whether or not characterstring input is started by the decision whether or not the remotecharacter string input processing on the side of the mobile terminal 1has been started up.

If the user has not started character string input (N of step S104),then the character string remote input block 53 gets a character stringfrom the game apparatus 2 and executes processing of displaying thereceived character string. To be more specific, the character stringremote input block 53 checks whether or not a partial character stringhalfway through input and edit is transmitted from the transmissionblock 65 of the game apparatus 2 and the reception block 55 receivesthis partial character string (step S105). If this partial characterstring is found transmitted (Y of step S105), then the character stringremote input block 53 stores the partial character string into thecharacter string buffer 56 and, at the same time, displays thischaracter string in the character string display column 72 on the screenof the mobile terminal 1 (step S106). Then, the processing from stepS104 is repeated.

On the other hand, if it is found that the user starts character stringinput at the mobile terminal 1 in step S104 (Y of step S104), then thetransmission block 54 transmits an input start signal indicative of thestart of character string input by the user at the mobile terminal 1 tothe game apparatus 2 (step S107).

Next, on the basis of an operation obtained by the touch operationacquisition block 52, the character string remote input block 53 decideswhether or not the user has determined an input character string (stepS108). For example, the character string remote input block 53 may makethe above-mentioned decision by whether or not the user has pressed abutton indicative of decision of character string input. If it is foundthat the user has not decided an input character string (N of stepS108), the character string remote input block 53 executes, on the basisof that operation, character string operations such as acquisition of anadditional character string, kanji conversion, and character stringediting (step S109). The results thereof are reflected onto thecharacter string that is stored in the character string buffer 56. Then,the transmission block 54 transmits data of the character string storedin the character string buffer 56 to the reception block 64 of the gameapparatus 2 (step S110). Subsequently, the processing from step S108 isrepeated again. Thus, the character string remote input block 53 canedit and decide the final input character string (for example, acharacter string including both of the following partial characterstring and additional character string) based on the partial characterstring inputted in the game apparatus 2 and the additional characterstring inputted by an input device such as the touch panel in the mobileterminal 1.

On the other hand, if it is found that the user has decided a characterstring to be inputted in an application program (Y of step S108), thenthe transmission block 65 transmits a decision signal indicative of thedecision of a character string input to the reception block 64 of thegame apparatus 2 (step S111). The character string stored in thecharacter string buffer 56 at the time of this decision is an inputcharacter string to be passed to the application block 66. It should benoted that the transmission block 65 may transmit the decided inputcharacter string to the reception block 64 of the game apparatus 2 alongwith the decision signal. If an operation for terminating the remotecharacter string input processing is executed by pressing the closebutton 73 for example, then the transmission block 54 may transmit aremote input termination signal indicative of termination thereof to thegame apparatus 2.

It should be noted that if the reception block 55 receives, from thegame apparatus 2, a signal indicative that the ID of the userauthenticated by the mobile terminal 1 as a response to inputready/unready inquiry information for example is different from the IDof the user operating the controller 3 after being authenticated in thegame apparatus 2, the character string remote input block 53 mayrestrict the input of a character string. At that moment, the mobileterminal 1 may output and display a message indicative that the ID ofthe user associated with the mobile terminal 1 is different from the IDof the user associated with the game apparatus 2 or associated with thestartup of character input processing, thereby terminating the remotecharacter string input processing.

Next, a processing flow of mainly the character string input block 62and the character string output block 63 of the game apparatus 2 will bedescribed. FIGS. 11 and 12 are diagrams illustrating one example of aprocessing flow of the game apparatus 2. The flow shown in FIGS. 11 and12 is executed every time the application block 66 starts up characterstring input processing.

First, when a program of character string input is started up by theapplication block 66 in the game apparatus 2, the transmission block 65transmits input ready information indicative that character string inputis ready to the mobile terminal 1 (Step S201).

It should be noted that, if the user authentication block 68 of the gameapparatus 2 decided that the ID of the user authenticated by the userauthentication block 57 of the mobile terminal 1 is different from theID of the user who was authenticated by the user authentication block 68of the game apparatus 2 and started up this character string inputprocessing (by use of the controller 3 used for character string input),then the transmission block 65 may transmit a signal indicative of anerror that the user is wrong without transmitting input readyinformation, thereby restricting the input of character strings from themobile terminal 1.

The character string input block 62 is realized mainly by the processor21 and the storage block 22. In step S201, the character string inputblock 62 checks whether an input start signal has been received from themobile terminal 1 (step S202). Here, an input start signal is receivedby the reception block 64 from time to time.

If no input start signal is found received (N of step S202), then, onthe basis of the operation obtained by the controller operationacquisition block 61, the character string input block 62 decideswhether the user has executed an operation for completing the input ofcharacter string (step S203). A method of this decision may be thedecision whether a button indicative of the completion of characterstring input has been pressed by the user. If it is found that the userhas not executed the operation for the completion of character stringinput (N of step S203), then, on the basis of this operation, thecharacter string input block 62 executes character string operationssuch as acquisition of character string, kanji conversion, and characterstring editing, the results thereof being reflected onto the characterstring stored in the character string buffer 67 (step S204). Then, thetransmission block 65 transmits data of the operated character stringstored in the character string buffer 67 to the reception block 55 ofthe mobile terminal 1 (step S205). Subsequently, the processing fromstep S202 is repeated.

The character string output block 63 is realized mainly by the processor21 and the storage block 22. The character string output block 63 passesan input character string edited by the character string input block 62and the character string remote input block 53 and decided to beinputted in the application block 66 to the application block 66.

If the user executes an operation for deciding an input character stringin step S203 (Y of step S203), the character string output block 63passes the character string inputted and stored in the character stringbuffer 67 so far to the application block 66 (step S206), therebyterminating the character string input processing. At this moment, thetransmission block 65 may transmit input unready information to themobile terminal 1. When the reception block 55 of the mobile terminal 1receives this input unready information, the character string remoteinput block 53 displays that character string input is in the waitstate, thereby prohibiting input.

If the input start signal was received in step S202 (Y of step S202),then the character string input block 62 prohibits the execution ofinput of a character string on the basis of an operation obtained by thecontroller operation acquisition block 61 (step S207). To be morespecific, the character string input block 62 prohibits the input bydisabling the pressing of the buttons of the on-screen keyboard, forexample.

Subsequently, until the reception block 64 receives the decision signalfrom the mobile terminal 1 (Y of step S208), the character string outputblock 63 repeats reception of the character string transmitted from thetransmission block 54 of the mobile terminal 1 (step S209) and thecharacter string output block 63 repeats the display of the receivedcharacter string in the character string display column 71 of the screen(step S210). Then, when the reception block 64 receives the decisionsignal from the mobile terminal 1 (Y of step S209), the character stringoutput block 63 passes the input character string stored in thecharacter string buffer 67 to the application block 66 (step S211).

It should be noted that if the reception block 64 receives a remoteinput termination signal indicative of termination of remote characterstring input processing rather than a decision signal from thetransmission block 54 of the mobile terminal 1 or if communicationbetween the mobile terminal 1 and the game apparatus 2 is discontinuedfor some reason, then the character string input block 62 may cancel theinhibition of the character input by the controller 3. In this case, thecharacter string input block 62 may put the on-screen keyboard into theinput ready state again, thereby restarting the processing from stepS203.

Thus, the processing in which characters are first inputted by thecontroller 3 and then a character string is added or edited at themobile terminal 1 is realized. Although there is no processing fordeciding and solving the input contention between the mobile terminal 1and the game apparatus 2, the input of the controller 3 and the input ofthe mobile terminal 1 can be mixed without damaging substantialconvenience.

Further, restricting input by use of the touch panel of the mobileterminal 1 if the ID of the user who starts up remote character stringinput processing of the mobile terminal 1 is different from the ID ofthe user who starts up character string input processing of the gameapparatus 2 allows the prevention of two or more users from inputtingcharacter strings at the same time. This also allows a simple method toprevent the occurrence of input contentions in advance.

It should be noted that the present invention is applied not only to themobile terminal 1 and the game apparatus 2. For example, the presentinvention may be applied to devices with which character strings areinputted through a remote controller like a household video recorderinstead of the game apparatus 2.

Second Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 13, there is shown a diagram illustrating one exampleof an information processing system practiced as the second embodiment.The information processing system practiced as the second embodiment hasa terminal apparatus 101, a host apparatus 102, a controller 103, and arouter 104, for example. For example, the terminal apparatus 101 is amobile computer such as a mobile game machine, the host apparatus 102 isa stationary game machine, and the controller 103 is a game controller.The controller 103 is directly connected to the host apparatus 102 in awired or wireless manner. The terminal apparatus 101 may be a tabletterminal or a stationary computer. The host apparatus 102 may be amobile terminal.

The terminal apparatus 101 and the host apparatus 102 are interconnectedvia a network. The terminal apparatus 101 and the host apparatus 102 areinterconnected by a LAN that includes the router 4 in FIG. 13; thisconnection may also be via the Internet.

With the present embodiment, description will be mainly made in the casein which the host apparatus 102 is remotely operated by use of theterminal apparatus 101 and characters are inputted from the terminalapparatus 101. In a remote operation, the host apparatus 102 transmitsimage data of an image drawn by itself to the terminal apparatus 101,and the terminal apparatus 101 displays the received image on a displayoutput device of the terminal apparatus 101, thereby presenting theimage to the user. In addition, the terminal apparatus 101 gets an inputfrom a user and transmits the obtained input to the host apparatus 102.The transmitted input is used for processing of the host apparatus 102.In the following description, the terminal apparatus 101 is a mobilegame machine and the host apparatus 102 is stationary game machine.

Referring to FIG. 14, there is shown a diagram illustrating one exampleof a hardware configuration of the terminal apparatus 101. The terminalapparatus 101 has a processor 111, a storage block 112, a communicationblock 113, an operation input block 114, and a display block 115. Theprocessor 111, the storage block 112, the communication block 113, andthe display block 115 are the same as the processor 11, the storageblock 12, the communication block 13, and the display block 15 of thefirst embodiment, so that the description will be skipped.

The operation input block 114 is an input device such as a touch panelor buttons and sticks of a controller, for example. On the basis ofcontrol by the processor 111, the operation input block 114 detects aposition touched by a user, a direction inputted in the controller, andpressing of a particular button. The touch panel is arranged so as to besuperimposed on the display area of the display block 115. It should benoted that the operation input block 114 and the display block 115 ofthe terminal apparatus 101 may not include an input device and an imageoutput device themselves; instead, an external input device and anexternal display output device may be controlled. It should also benoted that the hardware configuration of the host apparatus 102 is thesame as that of the game apparatus 2, so that the description will beskipped.

Referring to FIG. 15, there is shown a block diagram illustratingfunctions that are realized by the information processing systempracticed as the second embodiment. The terminal apparatus 101 relatedwith this embodiment functionally has a display control block 151, aterminal operation acquisition block 152, a character string remoteinput block 153, a terminal transmission block 154, and a terminalreception block 155. These functions are realized by the processor 111included in the terminal apparatus 101 that executes programs stored inthe storage block 112 to control the communication block 113, theoperation input block 114, and display block 115.

The host apparatus 102 functionally has a host operation acquisitionblock 161, a character string input block 162, a character string outputblock 163, a host reception block 164, a host transmission block 165, anapplication block 166, a host image drawing block 169, and a characterstring decision unit 170. These functions are realized by the processor21 included in the host apparatus 102 by executing programs stored inthe storage block 22 to control the communication block 23 and theinput/output block 24. The character string decision unit 170 has thecharacter string input block 162, the character string output block 163,a mode decision block 171.

The application block 166 is realized mainly by the processor 21 and thestorage block 22. The application block 166 is equivalent to theapplication block 66 in the first embodiment and is a process of amessaging application that requires character string input, for example.

The character string decision unit 170 is realized mainly by theprocessor 21 and the storage block 22. The mode decision block 171included in the character string decision unit 170 decides whether ornot to start character input with a request from the application block166 or a user operation used as a trigger. Then, if character input isdecided to start, the mode decision block 171 makes the hosttransmission block 165 transmit a start request and, at the same time,host image drawing block 169 display an image for character string input(an image for the user to identify an input character). The image forcharacter string input is a screen keyboard 191 for example. It shouldbe noted that the mode decision block 171 need not always make the hostimage drawing block 169 display a character string input image. Itshould also be noted that the character string input block 162 and thecharacter string output block 163 included in the character stringdecision unit 170 execute character string input processing to bedescribed later. Here, the user who operates the application block 166and the character string decision unit 170 of the host apparatus 102 isnot only a user who executes an input operation in the terminalapparatus 101, but also a user who operates the controller 103 and thelike connected to the host apparatus 102. In this case, as with the userauthentication blocks 57 and 68 in the first embodiment, an operatinguser may be authenticated in advance.

The host image drawing block 169 is realized mainly by the processor 21and the storage block 22. On the basis of instructions from theapplication block 166 and the character string decision unit 170, thehost image drawing block 169 draws an image (a host image) in the hostapparatus 102. Then, if connected to the terminal apparatus 101 forremote operation, the host image drawing block 169 outputs image dataindicative of the host image to the host transmission block 165. If adisplay output device is connected to the host apparatus 102 and isready for outputting a host image, then host image drawing block 169controls the display output device to display the host image.

Referring to FIG. 16, there is shown a diagram illustrating one exampleof an image drawn by the host apparatus 102. This diagram is an exampleof an image in an application with which users pass messages to eachother and is an image before a user starts character input.

Referring to FIG. 17, there is shown a diagram illustrating one exampleof a host image that is displayed in character input. This diagram is anexample of a host image in which the host image drawing block 169 drewan image of the screen keyboard 191 for character input as superimposedon the screen of an application. The screen keyboard 191 is drawn at thecenter of the lower half of the host image and arranged with buttons foridentifying alphabets, numbers, and symbols, a shift button forswitching between button types, a cursor button, a backspace button(bsp), and a button (Enter) indicative of input completion. Theindication of the input completion button may be switched to “Send” or“Search” depending on the type of character string input column.

The host transmission block 165 is realized mainly by the processor 21,the storage block 22, and the communication block 23. The hosttransmission block 165 transmits image data generated by the host imagedrawing block 169 to the terminal reception block 155 repeatedly atintervals according to the band of a network. In addition, the hosttransmission block 165 transmits a start request to the terminalreception block 155 when so instructed by the above-mentioned modedecision block 171. The host transmission block 165 may transmit a textof an item to be displayed on a button indicative of input completion.

The terminal reception block 155 is realized mainly by the processor111, the storage block 112, and the communication block 113. Theterminal reception block 155 receives data transmitted from the hosttransmission block 165.

The display control block 151 is realized mainly by the processor 111,the storage block 112, and the display block 115. On the basis of imagedata of a host image received by the terminal reception block 155, thedisplay control block 151 outputs the host image to a display outputdevice. In addition, if the terminal reception block 155 receives astart request indicative of a request for starting character input fromthe host apparatus 102, the display control block 151 also outputs animage (hereafter referred to as “character identification image”) forallowing the user to identify characters at the time of character input.The character identification image is a screen keyboard 181 for example;the character identification image may also be a handwritten characterinput area.

In addition, every time image data is received before the reception ofthe start request, the display control block 151 has display meansdisplay a host image indicated by the image data. Until the input of acharacter string is completed after the reception of the start request,the display control block 151 has the display means display an imagedifferent from the host image but including a character identificationimage. The image that is different from the host image and includes acharacter identification image is an image created by superimposing thehost image and the character identification image with each other. Itshould be noted that the image that is different from the host image andincludes a character identification image may not include the host imageat all.

Referring to FIG. 18, there is shown a diagram illustrating one exampleof an image drawn by the terminal apparatus 101 at the time of characterinput. In the example of this diagram, the display control block 151displays the screen keyboard 181, a character string display column 182halfway through input, and a transmission button 183 as superimposed ona host image as a character identification image on the host image. Inaddition, in areas other than the area in which the characteridentification image is superimposed, the host image is displayed in ahalf transparent manner. The screen keyboard 181 is drawn in the lowerhalf of the screen and arranged with buttons for identifying alphabetsand symbols, a shift button for switching between button types such asnumbers and other symbols, a cursor button, a backspace button, and aninput completion button 184 indicative of completion of input. Thedisplay control block 151 displays such that the area for displaying thescreen keyboard 181 covers the screen keyboard 191 of the host image. Inthe example shown in FIG. 18, the display control block 151 displays“Send” that is a text received from the host apparatus 102 onto theinput completion button 184. The input completion button 184 and thetransmission button 183 are both handled as buttons indicative ofcompletion of input.

The terminal operation acquisition block 152 is realized mainly by theprocessor 111, the storage block 112, and the operation input block 114.The terminal operation acquisition block 152 gets an operation done bythe user through an input device and outputs operation data indicativeof coordinates and directions identified by this operation and anyoption done by this operation to the terminal transmission block 154 orthe character string remote input block 153. If the screen keyboard 181is drawn, the terminal operation acquisition block 152 outputs operationdata to the character string remote input block 153 and, if the screenkeyboard 181 is not drawn, outputs operation data to the terminaltransmission block 154.

The character string remote input block 153 is realized mainly by theprocessor 111 and the storage block 112. On the basis of operation dataindicative of an operation by the user on a character identificationimage, the character string remote input block 153 generates characterdata indicative of a character identified by the user. The characterdata is text data of a character string including the identifiedcharacter for example; the character data may also be data indicative oftype or position of a pressed button among buttons of the screenkeyboard 181 or data of coordinates at which touch was done. In thefollowing description, the character data is assumed to be text dataincluding this identified character. In addition, on the basis of a useroperation, the character string remote input block 153 decides whetheror not the input of a character string by the above-mentioned user hasbeen terminated; if the input is found terminated, the character stringremote input block 153 makes the terminal transmission block 154transmit a termination request along with the character data.

The terminal transmission block 154 is realized mainly by the processor111, the storage block 112, and the communication block 113. Theterminal transmission block 154 transmits operation data or characterdata generated by the character string remote input block 153 to thehost apparatus 102. The terminal transmission block 154 transmits atermination request and the like on the basis of control by thecharacter string remote input block 153.

The host reception block 164 is realized mainly by the processor 21, thestorage block 22, and the communication block 23. The host receptionblock 164 gets data transmitted from the terminal transmission block154.

The host operation acquisition block 161 is realized mainly by theprocessor 21, the storage block 22, and the input/output block 24. Thehost operation acquisition block 161 gets operation data indicative ofan operation (coordinates, directions, or presence or absence of buttoninput) inputted in an input device directly connected to the hostapparatus 102 such as the controller 103. The host operation acquisitionblock 161 also gets operation data acquired by the terminal operationacquisition block 152. The host operation acquisition block 161 outputsthe operation data obtained from the input device or the terminaloperation acquisition block 152 to the application block 166 or thecharacter string decision unit 170. To be more specific, if theoperation data is for the area of the screen keyboard 191, then the hostoperation acquisition block 161 outputs the operation data to thecharacter string decision unit 170; if the operation data is for areasother than the area of the screen keyboard 191, the host operationacquisition block 161 outputs the operation data to the applicationblock 166.

The character string input block 162 included in the character stringdecision unit 170 decides a character string inputted by the user on thebasis of the operation data inputted from the host operation acquisitionblock 161. Further, the character string decision unit 170 decides thecharacter string of the character data received by the host receptionblock 164 as the character string inputted by the user. Then, thecharacter string output block 163 included in the character stringdecision unit 170 passes the decided character string to the applicationblock 166.

If a termination request is received by the host reception block 164,the mode decision block 171 included in the character string decisionunit 170 instructs the host image drawing block 169 to delete the imagefor character string input from the host image. Consequently, uponreception of a termination request, the host transmission block 165transmits image data of an image that does not include the image forcharacter input.

The following describes details of the processing associated withcharacter string input. On the basis of an instruction from theapplication block 166 or other blocks, the mode decision block 171decides whether it is an interval between start and end of characterinput, thereby switching between the character input mode correspondingto the interval between start and end of character input and thepositional direction input mode corresponding to other intervals.Referring to FIG. 19, there is shown a diagram illustrating one exampleof a processing flow of the character string decision unit 170associated with the start and end of character string input. Thisprocessing is regularly repeatedly executed, for example.

First, the mode decision block 171 decides whether the character inputmode is on at the time of execution of this processing (step S601). Ifthe character input mode is found not on (N of step S601), then the modedecision block 171 decides whether a character input is requested by theapplication block 166 or the character input start button is pressed bythe user (step S602). Character input is requested by the applicationblock 166 when column “New Message” is selected on the screen shown inFIG. 16 for example. The character input start button is displayed onthe host image by the host image drawing block 169 on the basis of aninstruction from the application block 166 or the like (not displayed inFIG. 17).

If the character input is found requested from the application block 166or character input start button is pressed by the user (Y of step S602),then the mode decision block 171 switches to the character input mode(step S603). In addition, the host transmission block 165 transmits astart request to the terminal reception block 155 (step S604) and thehost image drawing block 169 draws the screen keyboard 191 (step S605),thereby making the host transmission block 165 transmit the image dataof this drawn host image. On the other hand, if the character input isfount not requested from the application block 166 and the characterinput start button is found not pressed by the user (N of step S602),then the processing from step S603 to step S605 is skipped.

If the character input mode is not on in step S601 (N of step S601),then it is decided whether an operation for terminating character inputhas been done by the user or a termination request has been receivedfrom the terminal apparatus 101 (step S606). If the operation forterminating character input is found done by the user or a terminationrequest is found received from the terminal apparatus 101 (Y of stepS606), then the mode decision block 171 switches to the positionaldirection input mode (step S608) and the host image drawing block 169deletes the screen keyboard 191 from the host image (step S608).Consequently, the host transmission block 165 transmits the image dataof the host image that does not include the screen keyboard 191. Itshould be noted that, if the operation for terminating character inputis not done by the user and a termination request is not received fromthe terminal apparatus 101 (N of step S606), then step S607 and stepS608 are skipped.

Referring to FIG. 20, there is shown a diagram illustrating one exampleof a processing flow of the terminal apparatus 101 at the time ofcharacter input. First, the character string remote input block 153waits until the terminal reception block 155 receives a start request(step S701). Upon reception of a start request, the display controlblock 151 draws the screen keyboard 181 as instructed by the characterstring remote input block 153 (step S702). The display control block 151executes control such that display means displays an image (refer toFIG. 18) with the screen keyboard 181 superimposed on the host image.

Then, if an exclusion request is received by the terminal receptionblock 155 (Y of step S703), the display control block 151 deletes thescreen keyboard 181, thereby terminating the processing related withcharacter input. An exclusion request is used for exclusive processingfor deciding which of the terminal apparatus 101 and the controller 103connected to the host apparatus 102 is used as the device for characterinput.

On the other hand, if no exclusion request is received by the terminalreception block 155 (N of step S703), then, on the basis of theoperation data from the terminal operation acquisition block 152, it isdecided whether the user has operated the screen keyboard 181 drawn bythe display control block 151 (step S704). If it is found that the userhas not operated the screen keyboard 181 (N of step S704), then thesubsequent processing is skipped and the processing from the step S703is repeated. On the other hand, if it is found that the user hasoperated the screen keyboard 181 in step S704 (Y of step S704), then thecharacter string remote input block 153 decides whether this operationis an operation for determining a character string (an operation forcompleting character input) (step S705). The operation for determining acharacter string is an operation for pressing the transmission button183 or the input completion button 184 as shown in FIG. 18 for example.

If the operation is found not for determining a character string (N ofstep S705), then the operation is for the selection of a characterbutton like alphabet or number or the selection of a edit button likebackspace, so that the character string remote input block 153 edits acharacter string on the basis of the selected button (step S706). Thenthe character string remote input block 153 instructs the displaycontrol block 151 to display the edited character string and theterminal transmission block 154 to transmit the data (the character dataincluding the character identified by the user) of the character stringhalfway through editing (step S707). It should be noted that the displaycontrol block 151 makes display means display an image with thecharacter string edited on the basis of the above-mentioned instructiondrawn in the character string display column 182.

On the other hand, if the operation is found to be an operation fordetermining a character string in step S705 (Y of step S705), then thecharacter string remote input block 153 determines the character stringbeing inputted at the current point of time as a character string to beinputted in the application block 166 and the terminal transmissionblock 154 transmits this determined character string (step S708).Further, the display control block 151 deletes the screen keyboard 181and the terminal transmission block 154 transmits a termination requestindicative of the completion of character string input (step S709).

Referring to FIGS. 21 and 22, there are shown diagrams illustrating oneexample of a processing flow of the host apparatus 102 at the time ofcharacter string input. First, the character string input block 162decides whether the host reception block 164 has received a characterstring halfway through editing from the terminal transmission block 154of the terminal apparatus 101 (step S801). If a character string halfwaythrough editing is found received from the terminal transmission block154 (Y of step S801), then the input from an input device directlyconnected to the host apparatus 102 such as the controller 103 isprohibited (step S808). The processing of step S808 is exclusiveprocessing that prioritizes the input on the side of the terminalapparatus 101. If the determined character string has not been receivedfrom the terminal transmission block 154 of the terminal apparatus 101(N of step S809), then the character string halfway through editingreceived by the host image drawing block 169 is drawn (step S810) andthe processing is repeated from step S809 again. On the other hand, ifthe determined character string has been received from the terminaltransmission block 154 of the terminal apparatus 101 in step S809 (Y ofstep S809), then the character string output block 163 passes thedetermined character string to the application (step S811) and notifiesthe mode decision block 171 that the user has executed an operation ofcharacter input termination. Consequently, the processing of characterstring input comes to an end, upon which the host image drawing block169 deletes the screen keyboard 191.

On the other hand, if the character string halfway through editing isnot found received from the terminal apparatus 101 in step S801 (N instep S801), then, on the basis of the operation data inputted from thehost operation acquisition block 161, the character string input block162 decides whether or not an operation for character input by use ofthe controller 103 has been done (step S802). If no operation forcharacter input is found done (N of step S802), then the processing isrepeated from step S801. On the other hand, if the operation forcharacter input is found done (Y of step S802), then the characterstring input block 162 instructs the host reception block 164 totransmit an exclusion request, upon which the host transmission block165 transmits the exclusion request (step S803). Consequently, the inputfrom the controller 103 is subsequently prioritized.

Next, on the basis of the input from the input device, the characterstring input block 162 decides whether or not an operation for decidinga character string has been done by the user. If the operation fordeciding a character string is found not done (N of step S804), then thecharacter string is edited on the basis of the inputted operation (stepS805). Then, the character string input block 162 instructs the hostimage drawing block 169 to draw the inputted character string, uponwhich the host image drawing block 169 draws the inputted characterstring (step S806). On the other hand, if the operation for deciding acharacter string is found done (Y of step S804), then the characterstring output block 163 passes the decided character string to theapplication block 166 (step S166), thereby notifying the mode decisionblock 171 that the user has done the operation for character inputtermination. Consequently, the processing of character string inputcomes to an end.

The processing described above makes an interval between start and endof display of the screen keyboard 181 by the terminal apparatus 101correspond to an interval between start and end of character stringinput. Consequently, a character identification image such as the screenkeyboard 181 is not displayed on the display means of the terminalapparatus 101 during the interval in which character string input is notexecuted, thereby reducing the chances causing hindrance for the user toview host images. In addition, because, in character input, realtimeoperations for output of host images are seldom required, the degree ofsuppression of the possibility in which the user feels hampered isexpected to be greater than the reduction of screen interval.

It should be noted that, in the examples shown in FIGS. 20 through 22,exclusion processing is executed in which input through the terminalapparatus 101 or input through the controller 103, whichever is donefirst, is prioritized at the time of character string input; however, itis also practicable to execute exclusion control such that only the userspecified by the application block 166 (the user who selected thecharacter input column, for example) is able to input character stringsfrom the beginning. Alternatively, as with shown in FIG. 9 through FIG.12 of the first embodiment, the character string input from thecontroller 103 may be allowed until input through the terminal apparatus101 is done.

Reference Signs List

1 Mobile terminal, 2 Game apparatus, 3 Controller, 4 Router, 11, 21, 111Processor, 12, 22, 112 Storage block, 13, 23, 113 Communication block,14 Touch recognition block, 15, 115 Display block, 24 Input/outputblock, 51 Input ready/unready inquiry block, 52 Touch operationacquisition block, 53 Character string remote input block, 54Transmission block, 55 Reception block, 56, 67 Character string buffer,57, 68 User authentication block, 61 Controller operation acquisitionblock, 62 Character string input block, 63 Character string outputblock, 64 Reception block, 65 Transmission block, 66 Application block,71, 72 Character string display column, 73 Close button, 101 Terminalapparatus, 102 Host apparatus, 103 Controller, 104 Router, 114 Operationinput block, 151 Display control block, 152 Terminal operationacquisition block, 153 Character string remote input block, 154 Terminaltransmission block, 155 Terminal reception block, 161 Host operationacquisition block, 162 Character string input block, 163 Characterstring output block, 164 Host reception block, 165 Host transmissionblock, 166 Application block, 169 Host image drawing block, 170Character string decision unit, 171 Mode decision block, 181, 191 Screenkeyboard, 182 Character string display column, 183 Transmission button,184 Input completion button

1. A terminal apparatus comprising: reception means for receiving astart request indicative of a request for starting character input froma host apparatus; display control means for having display meansdisplay, if the start request is received from the host apparatus, acharacter identification image for allowing a user to identify acharacter; and transmission means for transmitting informationindicative of a character identified by the user to the host apparatuson a basis of an operation done on the character identification image bythe user.
 2. The terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thereception means repeatedly receives image data indicative of a hostimage transmitted from the host apparatus, and the display control meanshas the display means display, every time the image data is receivedbefore the start request is received, a host image indicated by theimage data concerned and has the display means display, after receptionof the start request, an image different from the host image andincluding the character identification image.
 3. The terminal apparatusaccording to claim 2, further comprising means for deciding whetherinput of a character string by the user is terminated on a basis of anoperation done by the user, wherein, if input of a character string bythe user is found terminated, the display control means has the displaymeans display an image with the character identification image deleted,and if input of a character string by the user is found terminated, thetransmission means transmits a termination request for requestingtransmission of image data indicative of an image that does not includean area in which the host apparatus allows the user to identify acharacter.
 4. The terminal apparatus according to claim 2, wherein thedisplay control means has the display means display an image with thehost image and the character identification image superimposed on eachother after reception of the start request.
 5. The terminal apparatusaccording to claim 4, wherein, of the image data, image data aftertransmission of the start request is indicative of the host imageincluding a host character input image for selecting a character, and ifthe start request is received, the display control means has the displaymeans display such that the host character input image is covered by thecharacter identification image.
 6. A non-transitory computer-readableinformation storage medium configured to store a program for a computer,the program comprising: by reception means, receiving a start requestindicative of a request for starting character input from a hostapparatus; by display control means, having display means display, ifthe start request is received from the host apparatus, a characteridentification image for allowing a user to identify a character; and bytransmission means, transmitting information indicative of the characteridentified by the user to the host apparatus on a basis of an operationdone on the character identification image by the user.
 7. A characterstring input method comprising: receiving a start request indicative ofa request for starting character input from a host apparatus; havingdisplay means display, if the start request is received from the hostapparatus, a character identification image for allowing a user toidentify a character; and transmitting information indicative of thecharacter identified by the user to the host apparatus on a basis of anoperation done on the character identification image by the user.